It was first published in late January 1983 chronicling the who’s who of the hard-core punk scene. The name “Last Rites” also doubled as the name Duffy used to book and promote national acts in the punk community. As the independent magazine circulated so did a series of underground mix tape the most notable one was the infamous Code Blue compilation. The tapes were well known for boasting clever
liner notes and featured bands such as Husker Du. The recordings were super lo fi often times the recordings were taken with cheap tape players during practice sessions or live shows. In true punk gestalt the production quality was low but the sound was insatiable and full of raw unabashed energy. After he graduated Marquette University in December 1982 he spent much time writing about and interviewing bands not to mention he is a musician himself. One day he got the inclination to start booking and promoting bands after speaking with several angry musicians claiming they were mistreated by venues and bar owners. Duffy stepped up to the challenge and booked well known punk pioneers Husker Du at Club 950 in Lincoln Park, 500 people showed up. With the success of that show it was evident that he had embarked on a career. With the rise of the punk music scene there was a demand to find more venues to support thriving talent. Unfortunately, most mainstream venues shied away from having the unruly crowds in their establishments. Around 1984 Duffy began booking shows at Exit. With much of the north side under his belt the punk scene was steadily driving forward. After a D.O.A. show a colossal fight erupted in front of the Metro between neo-Nazi skin heads and punks tarnishing an otherwise great night but staying in line with punk ethics. The late 80’s early 90’s showed a tapper in punk music’s popularity and a rise in grunge music. With a new era of music on the horizon there too was a shift in Duffy’s focus, he began to take turn his attention to the venue Dreamerz in 1989 in Wicker Park, where he booked Gwar, the Butthole Surfers, and the first local shows by Fugazi and Nirvana. Heavy hitting acts like that have risen to the ranks of house hold names and stake a claim in defining and reshaping the sound of modern-day music. These performances remain to be a crowning achievement of Duffy’s career, exhibiting his foresight and influence in the Chicago music community. In 1992 Duffy began a ten-year co-promoting career with the music promotion giant Jam. He brought them; Pantera, White Zombie, Rollins Band, Bad Religion, Descendents, Type O Negative, Stone Temple Pilots, Testament, Corrosion of Conformity, Sepultura and hundreds of other acts. Duffy went on to manage a few bands and got three major label deals and 2 major publishing deals for Wicker Man and Loudmouth, as well as revived punk-metal jokesters career; The Meatmen. In the dawn of the new millennia Duffy continued to use the “Last Rites” name and took the reins as the main man in booking of the Abbey Pub located on Chicago’s northwest side. The venue was primarily known for hosting traditional Irish musical events but as of now has been booking premier local acts like Mr. Blotto and national touring giants like Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), The Kills, Mudhoney, Dinosaur Jr., Peaches, Black Keys,The Postal Service, Dave Davies (The Kinks), Agent Orange, Ghostface Killah, GZA,MF Doom, Laibach, Iron and Wine, Super Furry Animals and Crystal Castles to name a few. With the revamping of the venue it gives much needed diversity to where music can be experienced in the Chicago land area. After 12 years at The Abbey, Sean went a different way and left the venue. It eventually burnt down not too long after leaving. Her spent the next couple years doing show’s at Reggie’s on the near south side. Sold out show’s with Robert Gordon and Hugh Cornwell (with Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock and drummer supreme from Blondie Clem Burke) were among many shows Last Rites did there. Now Last Rites has a new home at then Avondale Music Hall on Milwaukee Ave. This is the home to the newest metal fest “Heavy Chicago"
